A recent article by the Heritage Foundation’s Blog, The Foundry, sheds some commonsensical light on an issue that I believe has become unnecessarily complicated and contentious. It states the following: “The most common myth that appears in “net neutrality” debates, even ones that appear in our comment section, is that the internet needs regulation in order to stay “neutral.” In reality, the internet is as open and adaptive as it is because it has been free of government regulation.”
It is important to understand that the Internet has grown to what it is today within the framework that currently exists. In other words, heavy regulation did not play a role in Internet service providers’ ability to effectively deploy broadband infrastructure and build it up to the successful technological marvel that it has undeniably become. Many will say that while a loose regulatory framework has allowed this technology to be born, given its size and potential for growth, regulators now hold the responsibility to manage this new technology in order to ensure that business continues to run smoothly.
Well, I say that there is no real, warranted reason to change a structure that works. In this case, broadband providers have been able to effectively deliver services to consumers with little, if any, incident. Given this push to develop net neutrality rules that will in fact change how broadband providers conduct business, I think the FCC has at least made a wise choice in opting to work closely with industry stakeholders and other policymakers. However, the full picture of what the FCC has proposed in its most recent net neutrality order has yet to be completely seen by the American public. My goal is to help Americans, and more specifically, Hispanic Americans, better understand how these new rules will impact their families and communities. I will continue to conduct the necessary research to make sure that I bring the facts and benefits in full view for all to see.